- May 21, 2026
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SportsMafia Wire graphic. Photo: Quintin Soloviev via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0. Team logos via ESPN.
Philip Rivers is set to become the next head football coach at NC State, with the board of trustees expected to finalize his contract Friday, sources told ESPN.
The former Wolfpack quarterback has never coached at the college level. He has spent the last six seasons building St. Michael Catholic High School in Fairhope, Alabama from the ground up, leading the Cardinals to state semifinals in 2024 and '25.
Rivers, 44, starred at NC State from 2000 to 2003, breaking nearly every school and ACC passing record with 13,484 yards and 95 touchdowns. He led the program to four straight bowl games under Chuck Amato, winning three. Amato died last month at 80.
The hiring will replace Dave Doeren, fired Oct. 24. Russell Wilson was also discussed for the position.
Rivers played 17 NFL seasons, mostly with the Chargers, retiring after 2020. He briefly returned last year to start three games for the Colts. His son Gunner committed to NC State on Feb. 23.
Mickey's Angle: Rivers brings instant credibility and recruiting juice, but jumping from high school to the ACC is a massive leap—Wolfpack fans should expect growing pains even with a legend at the helm.
Source: ESPN - written by Mickey the Mouth from the original report.